Bills can change destiny in NFL Draft

The NFL Draft is here. The Bills haven’t been a Super Bowl contender since they hadThurman Thomas, Bruce Smith, Jim Kelly and Marv Levy. In other words, it’s been a long, dark road since the early 1990s. Back then, Buffalo was an odds-on favorite to reach Super Sunday on an annual basis.

Now, on Thursday during the first round of the NFL Draft in Arlington, Texas, the Bills have a chance to finally usher in another era of championship-caliber football. General manager Brandon Beane has a ton of ammunition to do whatever he pleases. He has multiple picks in the first, second and third rounds.

In the initial round of the NFL Draft, Buffalo has both the 12th and 22nd-overall selections. The Bills could get lucky and see one of the top quarterbacks fall to them at No. 12, but smart money says Buffalo should move up to secure the opportunity.

The Cleveland Browns are expected to take Baker Mayfield with the first-overall pick in the NFL draft. With this in mind, Buffalo has some options to weigh. Should that happen, the New York Giants are likely open to trading down from the second spot, although the Bills would have to give both of their first-rounders up and then some. Should they wait it out, there is a chance that the Giants take Saquon Barkley. The New York Jets are almost certain to nab Sam Darnold in this scenario at the next slot, leaving the Browns on the clock at No. 4 with Josh Rosen, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson still on the board.

At this juncture, Beane might want to make the move. The Denver Broncos are picking next and could use a quarterback, and both the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals are viable threats to trade up and get one as well. Buffalo would still have to part with a good bit of draft capital, but it could select a franchise guy with the upside of finally replacing Kelly.

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If Beane decides to play the waiting game all the way until No. 12, history isn’t on his side. Last year, the Cardinals tried to do that at No. 13, believing that either Deshaun Watson or Patrick Mahomes would be there. It looked as though they were right, until the Kansas City Chiefs moved up 17 spots to select Mahomes at the 10th position. Then, two picks later, the Houston Texans nabbed Watson, going up 13 spots in a trade with Cleveland.

Buffalo can’t afford to be leapfrogged by the Dolphins, Cardinals or even — gulp — the New England Patriots. If Beane believes there is a franchise-changing quarterback on the board once the fourth pick comes around, he has to move swiftly.